The Federal Association of Applied Arts (BK) is the umbrella organization of professional craftspersons working in Germany. It operates as independent, non-state organization and regards itself as national and international representation of interests for the economic and cultural promotion of the applied arts. Currently around 1800 craftspersons, freelance artists and designers as members of the state associations are represented by the BK.
Services for members include the arrangement of exhibition possibilities and support in participating in national and international trade fairs, as well as help in questions of customs clearance, taxes, social insurance, copyright law, training and further education. Key BK functions are press and PR activities, the execution of symposia on current questions of contemporary applied art, the issue of publications and arranging workshops and seminars. The office of the BK also houses a current library, an archive and a slide library that are open to all persons interested in applied arts.
Further information on the association and its members can be accessed in internet under www.bundesverband-kunsthandwerk.de